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DesertX

In a much-anticipated reveal on October 3, 2023, Ducati introduced the world to the 2024 Ducati DesertX Rally—a formidable off-road motorcycle designed to elevate the riding experience for enthusiasts.

Building upon the already impressive DesertX, the 2024 Rally edition brings a host of enhancements, notably in suspension and wheel technology, catering to the demands of serious enduro riders.

A Powerhouse Under the Hood

At the heart of the 2024 Ducati DesertX Rally is Ducati’s robust 937cc Testastretta 11-degree engine. This powerhouse boasts a claimed output of 110hp @ 9,250 rpm and 92Nm @ 6,500 rpm, ensuring an exhilarating off-road experience.

Suspension Enhancements

One of the standout features of the DesertX Rally is its upgraded suspension system. The front suspension now boasts a 48mm KYB closed-cartridge fork, complete with adjustable compression and rebound settings.

Meticulous engineering has been employed to minimize cavitation, utilizing a closed-cartridge design, while friction is reduced through Kashima coating on the fork tubes and a diamond-like coating (DLC) on the sliders.

At the rear, a KYB shock absorber with a 46mm piston offers adjustable compression at high and low speeds, as well as preload and rebound adjustability.

These improvements translate to impressive suspension travel—250mm up front and 240mm at the rear. The bike offers a substantial ground clearance of 280mm.

To further enhance control, an adjustable Öhlins steering damper has been integrated into the handlebar, working in harmony with the upgraded suspension system.

Wheels and Tires

The DesertX Rally sees a significant transformation in its wheel technology. Billet aluminum hubs anchor the robust carbon steel spokes, which radiate outward to lightweight Excel Takasago rims.

These wheels collectively shed 0.5 kilograms of unsprung weight compared to the stock DesertX wheels. The wheel setup comprises a 21-inch front wheel and an 18-inch rear wheel, all wrapped in high-performance Pirelli Scorpion Rally STR rubber.

Additional Features

Ducati has not overlooked the finer details of the 2024 DesertX Rally. The bike now features a high front mudguard, equipped with a split brake line to accommodate relocation.

Machined fork clamps, adjustable brake and shift pedals, and a distinctive Iron Giant livery—exclusive to this model—add to its visual appeal. These enhancements complement the existing suite of features offered on the standard DesertX.

Extended Range with Auxiliary Fuel Tank

For riders seeking extended range, Ducati offers an optional auxiliary fuel tank that mounts at the rear of the bike.

This accessory provides an additional 8 liters of fuel-carrying capacity, resulting in an estimated 40 percent increase in range compared to the standard 21-liter tank.

The 2024 Ducati DesertX Rally is poised to redefine the off-road adventure experience with its formidable engine, advanced suspension, and wheel technology. Whether conquering rugged trails or embarking on long-distance journeys, this motorcycle promises an unparalleled riding experience for enthusiasts worldwide.

As Ducati continues its tradition of the Ducati World Premiere, enthusiasts worldwide are eagerly awaiting the unveiling of six exciting additions to the Ducati family, with the recent revelation of the Monster 30 Anniversario setting the stage.

  • the Ducati DesertX Rally was recently caught undergoing testing in Europe. 
  • the DesertX Rally features notable enhancements including a taller ground clearance and motocross-style front fender. 

Among these upcoming models, the Ducati DesertX Rally has been generating quite a buzz, having recently been spotted undergoing rigorous testing on the rugged terrains of Europe. This machine promises to take adventure to the next level, enhancing the middleweight adventure motorcycle segment. Adding to the excitement, the DesertX Rally has already received certification from the California Air Resources Board, signaling its imminent arrival.

 

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If the Ducati DesertX already turned heads with its distinctive design, the Rally version is set to elevate the off-road experience with a host of notable enhancements. Its unique appearance, reminiscent of the Cagiva Elefante, features a towering stance and muscular side panels. However, it seems that the stock DesertX may not be as bash-friendly as some riders would prefer, and this is precisely where the Rally steps in to address these concerns.

One of the standout improvements is the elongated, motocross-style front fender that graces the new model. This significant addition is complemented by robust fork protectors, extending upward to shield the upper tubes and embrace the stanchions, reducing the likelihood of oil seal damage – a welcome sight for off-road adventurers.

Another alteration to note is the revamped windshield, which, though maintaining its characteristic polka-dot pattern, appears taller compared to the standard DesertX. For those who dare to venture further off the beaten path, a new engine bash plate takes center stage. Reinforced with the trellis chassis and featuring a forged carbon construction, it ensures durability while adding a touch of rugged sophistication.

Ducatisti will also appreciate the inclusion of the Rally saddle from the accessory catalog. This dual-tone (red-black) flat, single-piece seat replaces the stock split setup, providing greater ease of movement when navigating through dirt and challenging landscapes. While the seat height may see a slight increase, the overall riding experience and triangle should remain largely unchanged.

When it comes to the bike’s rear, it bears a familiar look, with the fender and lights closely resembling those found on the existing DesertX. However, keen-eyed observers will spot the addition of side racks as the only noteworthy update.

To top it all off, the Ducati DesertX Rally flaunts a striking special livery that is sure to turn heads. The keen observer will notice a hidden red hue beneath the surface of the covered plastics, while the subframe and pillion grab rail proudly sport a vibrant red finish. In contrast, the tank and rear fender appear to embrace a sleek white shade, resulting in a captivating dual-tone livery that showcases Ducati’s signature red in all its glory.

SW-Motech, a leading manufacturer of motorcycle accessories, has announced a new range of crash protection accessories for the Ducati DesertX adventure bike.

  • The new range follows the success of SW-Motech’s tank bag for the DesertX.
  • The new range puts SW-Motech in direct competition with Wunderlich, who launched a range of add-ons earlier this year.

The new range from SW-Motech includes the Upper Crash Bar, which is made from powder-coated steel tubing and protects the fairing panels, lower section of the fuel tank, and upper part of the engine. The Upper Crash Bar also features multiple mounting points, which spread impact forces.

The Engine Guard, which is a 4mm-thick aluminium plate, protects the sump, front cylinder casings, and exhaust header. The Engine Guard attaches via existing mounts, and also features a recess for the oil drain plug.

The Front Axle Sliders, which feature a reinforced core and replaceable polypropylene shells, protect the front axle of the bike.

The Water Pump Protector, which is CNC-milled from anodised aluminium alloy, fits to existing mounting points on the bike, and protects the water pump.

The Centre Stand from SW-Motech is made of powder-coated steel tubes and features an outrigger for easy operation. Finally, the Sidestand Foot Extender, which is CNC-milled from anodised aluminium alloy and stainless steel, provides additional support for the bike when parked on uneven surfaces.

All of the new range of accessories from SW-Motech for the Ducati DesertX adventure bike are available on the SW-Motech website. With the addition of these new accessories, SW-Motech has further established itself as a leading manufacturer of motorcycle accessories, providing riders with the peace of mind they need when taking on tough terrain.

SW-Motech introduced a new clip-on tank bag for the all-capable Ducati DesertX for 2023. 

  • The DesertX is Ducati first ever fully-capable off-road motorcycle. 
  • At the heart sits the 937cc Testastretta 11-degree Desmodromic engine capable of producing 110hp @ 9,250rpm and 92Nm @ 6,500rpm.

Dubbed one of the most exciting motorcycles to come out of the Borgo Panigale factory, the DesertX is the firm’s maiden attempt at a proper off-road-focused ADV machine. 

That said, it’s not surprising that there are more aftermarket parts available for the DesertX including SW-Motech’s latest PRO Micro Tank Bag. 

Completely expandable, the bag offers extra space to stash your essentials including your smartphone, power bank, action cameras, documents and more. 

Thanks to the bag’s laminated EVA shell and a water-resistant inner coating, the shape will remain intact whilst offering better protection from the rain. 

Also, if you need that extra assurance, the contents can be separated with mesh-divide compartments to ensure that every stuff you put in would not get smashed against one another. 

According to SW-Motech, the tank bag is also glove-friendly thanks to large zip pulls. 

Interestingly, the PRO Micro Tank Bag is designed to be fitted centrally on the DesertX fuel tank, allowing easy access to its off-centre fuel-filler cap. 

To those interested, the SW-Motech Pro Micro Tank Bag is priced at GBP112.96 (RM597). 

Ducati has announced that the DesertX will be equipped with Turn-by-Turn navigation in 2023, making it the first Ducati to have the feature. 

  • The DesertX is Ducati first ever fully-capable off-road motorcycle. 
  • At the heart sits the 937cc Testastretta 11-degree Desmodromic engine capable of producing 110hp @ 9,250rpm and 92Nm @ 6,500rpm.

The DesertX is the Italian’s most outstanding bike since its introduction in 2022, as it is Ducati’s first real foray into the off-road arena.

According to the Italian motorcycle company, the DesertX will display the Turn-by-Turn information on the bike’s TFT dash. Unfortunately, the new feature does not come as standard but as an added option.

 

Another update to be carried out for 2023 is a new paint option dubbed the “RR22” livery. The same livery applied to Danilo Petrucci’s DesertX that he rode in a demo last year in Sardegna. 

Meanwhile, the same Turn-by-Turn navigation system will also be available on the upcoming Diavel V4. 

The all-new Ducati DesertX has finally landed in Malaysia exactly a year after its global introduction back in December 2021.

  • The DesertX is Ducati first fully-capable off-road middleweight adventure bike. 
  • Features the tried and tested, Testastretta 937cc 11-degree Desmodromic engine. 

Coming in at RM112,900, the Ducati DesertX is the latest contender in a competitive ADV category which includes the Triumph Tiger 900 Rally, Honda CRF1100L Africa Twin and the upcoming MV Agusta Lucky Explorer 9.5.

Catch our review of the 2022 Ducati DesertX in Italy:

According to Ducati, the DesertX is heavily inspired by the rally raiders that competed in the Paris-Dakar Rally during the 80s and 90s.

Dressed in an all-white with red accents, the DesertX appears in a heavy off-road elements combines with a distinctive twin circular LED headlights with DRL (Daytime Running Light).

The Ducati DesertX is built around an all-new steel trellis frame, aimed to improve rigidity especially in rough terrain. It also come equipped with a dedicated long travel suspension settings paired to a 21″ front and 18″ rear wheel.

The suspension system is handled by a full-adjustable Kayaba 46mm upside-down front forks and full-adjustable Kayaba monoshock with preload adjustment.

Other standard features available on the DesertX includes:

  • Wheelie Control
  • Engine Brake Control
  • Ducati Quick Shift
  • Cruise Control
  • Ducati Brake Light
  • USB power Socket
  • Steering damper
  • 21L tank (with additional 8L tank as optional)

Meanwhile, braking is done by 320mm aluminium flange semi-floating disc paired to a Brembo M50 callipers and assisted by Bosch Cornering ABS.

At the heart sits the 937cc Testastretta 11-degree Desmodromic engine capable of producing 110hp @ 9,250rpm and 92Nm @ 6,500rpm.

However, in respect to the same engine used on the Monster and Hypermotard, Ducati has updated the powerplant with lighter components.

In turn, the new Testastretta on the DesertX is now 1.7kg lighter, contributed by a new sound absorbing covers, new clutch, new clutch cover, revised gearbox and ignition stick coils.

According to Ducati, the engine has also been tweaked to allow for more seamless low-speed changes.

Ducati also optimised the riders seat, to ensure comfort on-road and off-road with an adjustable saddle. The pillion seat can also be remove.

Taller dashboard also allow riders to to see the 5″ TFT dash while standing up.

The DesertX offers six riding modes comprising of Sport, Touring, Urban, Wet, Enduro and Rally. Riders can also adjust the power modes accordingly.

In addition, Ducati Malaysia also brings a wide range of accessories and DesertX-themed apparel for every Ducatisti.

Ducati will return to EICMA Motorcycle Show on 8-15 November after a two-year absence.

  • 2022 EICMA will go ahead on 8-13 November 2022.
  • Ducati will return to EICMA after missing out on the 2021 edition.

The biggest motorcycle show in the world was cancelled in 2020 due to the pandemic but was back in full action last year.

However, Ducati was among the notable manufacturers missing from the event, along with KTM and BMW.

Instead, the Borgo Panigale factory unveiled its new range of bikes by releasing a series of videos of its forthcoming models – including the Multistrada V4 (2020) and Ducati DesertX (2021).

Nevertheless, the 2022 edition will go ahead, with Ducati confirmed as one of the industry’s leading manufacturers to participate following its absence in 2021.

Although the web series was considered a success, with the Multistrada V4 becoming one of Europe’s top adventure motorcycles, EICMA is still considered the best platform in terms of engagement.

Also, Ducati has confirmed it will continue its web series format alongside its scheduled presence at EICMA, with the company will showcase its new model range at the same time in a live stream.

Ducati marks the end of 2021 with a strong sales figure after securing a record of 59,447 motorcycles delivered to customers worldwide.

The number of sales also saw an increase of 24% over 2020 (48,042) and 12% over 2019 (53,183).

The United States emerged as the leading market for the Italian brand with 9,007 units sold followed by Itali with 8,707 units and Germany, 6,107 units.

Meanwhile, the Ducati brand also shows strong growth in China, with 4,901 motorcycles sold, an increase of 21% than the previous year.

According to Ducati CEO, Claudio Domenicali, the extraordinary sales figure has never been achieved in the company 95 years history.

“2021 was a magical year for Ducati. We delivered over 59,000 motorcycles, a number never achieved before in 95 years of the company’s history.

“We also won the title of MotoGP Constructors’ World Champion for the second consecutive year, and we started the electric era of our company with the V21L prototype, which foresees the bike that will race in the MotoE championship from 2023.

“The pandemic, which is still underway, in addition to generating so much suffering, has also made activities more complex, forcing us to conduct a continuous internal reorganization,” said Claudio Domenicali, Ducati CEO.

Such success was obtained thanks to the new Multistrada V4, which came out on top as the most popular bike among Ducatisti in 2021 with over 9,957 units sold.

The Ducati Scrambler 800 range comes second with 9,059 units sold followed by the all-new Monster with 8,734 units sold.

Meanwhile, Ducati expects another strong growth in 2022, as expectations are high for the new DesertX.

“With the DesertX we will have from this year on an extremely attractive proposal for adventure fans, and other ambitious projects are currently in development.

“The core values ​​of the brand – Style, Sophistication, Performance and Trust – are more current than ever,” added Domenicali.

Ducati has offically unveiled the DesertX, the latest addition from the Borgo Panigale factory during the final episode of Ducati World Premier 2021 web series.

The DesertX is finally showcased in its production form, two years since the prototype concept was revealed at 2019 EICMA.

The Ducati DesertX is the latest contender in a competitive ADV category which includes the Triumph Tiger 900 Rally, Honda CRF1100L Africa Twin and the upcoming MV Agusta Lucky Explorer 9.5.

According to Ducati, the DesertX is heavily inspired by the rally raiders that competed in the Paris-Dakar Rally during the 80s and 90s.

Dressed in an all-white with red accents, the DesertX appears in a heavy off-road elements combines with a distinctive twin circular LED headlights with DRL (Daytime Running Light).

The Ducati DesertX is built around an all-new steel trellis frame, aimed to improve rigidity especially in rough terrain. It also come equipped with a dedicated long travel suspension settings paired to a 21″ front and 18″ rear wheel.

The suspension system is handled by a full-adjustable Kayaba 46mm upside-down front forks and full-adjustable Kayaba monoshock with preload adjustment.

Other standard features available on the DesertX includes:

  • Wheelie Control
  • Engine Brake Control
  • Ducati Quick Shift
  • Cruise Control
  • Ducati Brake Light
  • USB power Socket
  • Steering damper
  • 21L tank (with additional 8L tank as optional)

Meanwhile, braking is done by 320mm aluminium flange semi-floating disc paired to a Brembo M50 callipers and assisted by Bosch Cornering ABS.

At the heart sits the 937cc Testastretta 11-degree Desmodromic engine capable of producing 110hp @ 9,250rpm and 92Nm @ 6,500rpm.

However, in respect to the same engine used on the Monster and Hypermotard, Ducati has updated the powerplant with lighter components.

In turn, the new Testastretta on the DesertX is now 1.7kg lighter, contributed by a new sound absorbing covers, new clutch, new clutch cover, revised gearbox and ignition stick coils.

According to Ducati, the engine has also been tweaked to allow for more seamless low-speed changes.

Ducati also optimised the riders seat, to ensure comfort on-road and off-road with an adjustable saddle. The pillion seat can also be remove.

Taller dashboard also allow riders to to see the 5″ TFT dash while standing up.

The DesertX offers six riding modes comprising of Sport, Touring, Urban, Wet, Enduro and Rally. Riders can also adjust the power modes accordingly.

The 2022 Ducati DesertX is expected to be made available worldwide beginning May 2022.

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